I had this in another place, and today seems as good a day as any to wheel it out again, with a couple of updates and additions. If anyone was in any doubt as to my feelings on the subject, I think that:
a. a cinema is not an appropriate outlet for an advertisement exhorting people to pray, because:
b. I would feel deeply uncomfortable involving non-consenting strangers in my own religious practice, which would in effect be the result of showing the ‘Just Pray’ advertisement;
b. the Church of England has not been discriminated against in any way, shape or form (see Miss S. B.’s excellent post for more on this).
There is a limited pool of news stories on Christian issues, and the talking heads are tiresomely predictable. Now my outraged response can be tiresomely predictable, too!
Link to offending article (unless it belongs to a known click-baiter, in which case, summarise). Select response(s) as appropriate from the below list:
George Carey says something – OH GEORGE CAREY NO
George Carey says something else – no really you are not Archbishop any more NO ONE CARES and also YOU ARE WRONG
Michael Nazir-Ali says something – see above
Andrea Minichiello Williams of Christian Concern says something – well I am a Christian and damn straight I’m concerned about this woman SPEWING HATE AND BIGOTRY
Christians are persecuted in this country! – no, Christians are treated the same as most and better than many. Try Egypt.
David Cameron claims to endorse Christian values – see Isaiah 58:3-7
Pope does something – aha I approve of this Pope
Pope says something about poverty – at least SOMEONE remembers the point of the Church (see Isaiah 58:3-7)
Pope says something about sex or gender – yes, well, that’s why I’m an Anglican… oh, wait.
House of Bishops says something about poverty – at least SOMEONE remembers the point of the Church (see Isaiah 58:3-7)
House of Bishops says something anything else – FFS hurry up and disestablish so I can get out of this with a clear conscience
Daily Mail is concerned about erosion of traditional Christian values – someone must be doing something right
Archbishop of Canterbury goes too far – Archbishop of Canterbury does not go too far enough!
Women bishops – and about time
LGBT clergy – can we stop treating them as second-class citizens?
Fundamentally changing the nature of marriage – like Marriage With Deceased Wife’s Sister; see also shellfish, mixed fibre clothing, what Jesus said about marriage ahem ahem
Destroying the institution of marriage – possibly this would be a good thing?
Mention of Anglican Mainstream – No, it’s not mainstream
Mention of Church of England Newspaper – No, it’s not representative of the Church of England. Try the Church Times.
Find someone who is talking sense. Alan Wilson is usually a good bet; so is Vicky Beeching.
Consider, rhetorically, whether they are clinging to their crosses where the Breton boat-fleet tosses.
Include appropriate Dave Walker cartoon.
Post.
Kathleen Jowitt 